100% Solved:Windows could not complete the installation
In this post, I’ll describe two simple methods using which will resolve a reboot loop issue in Windows 7.
This problem usually occurs when a fresh Windows installation is interrupted before a user account is created.
The following error message is displayed
Windows could not complete the installation. To install Windows on this computer, restart the installation.
On clicking okay the system reboots and again the same error message “Windows could not complete the installation” is reported. This loop continues in the same fashion.
Method 1
- Press SHIFT + F10 to bring up the command prompt.
- Then type CD C:\windows\system32\oobe
- Hit Enter
- Then type msoobe
- Hit Enter
- This will open up the windows account creation wizard
- Using the wizard create a generic user account and then reboot the system
After following these steps you will not see the error message Windows could not complete the installation. However if you still continue to see that error message head on to methods 2.
Method 2
- Again press Shift + F10 to display the command prompt
- Then type MMC
- Now Click on File -> Add/Remove Snap-in…
- Select Computer Management
- Click Add
- Select Local Computer and Click Finish and then Ok.
- Click on Computer Management -> System Tools -> Local Users and Groups -> Users
- Double Click on Administrator
- Then UnCheck Account is disabled and Click OK
- Now right click Administrator and click on Set Password…
- Set a decent password to get started.
Hope this post resolved your problem if you liked it please do share this post with your friends. That’s all for today see you next time.
Have some questions join the discussion.
will this delete everything from my computer?
if so can i somehow recover that?
No, Daniel following these methods will not delete your files in the computer.
is there an updated version of this for windows 10? users is longer computer management.
thanks
Hi Meghan for some versions of windows this particular snap-in is not available. But you can still achieve the same by typing the following commands in the cmd :-
net user administrator /active:yes
net user administrator mypass
After that you should be able to login using the password “mypass”
when should we be typing that? is it after we get the error for ” snap in is not available ” ?
i am having this issue in windows 10.
shift f10 does not bring up anything.
You can get the command prompt by clicking on “repair your computer” in the lower bottom of the “install now” screen. Then click on “Troubleshoot” then on “Advanced options” you should now see “command prompt” option.
If you’re using a laptop try hit fn+shift+f10. That worked for me
Or use an external keyboard
THanks, worked for me, still waiting to see if everything else will
Most laptops have a dual key function system for the too row of keys
The f1 to f12 keys. So typically the (FN) key must be pressed at the same time as the f1 – f12 keys are pressed.
**********************************
WHEN DOING METHOD 1 ———- DO NOT USE CAPS!!!!!! IT WONT WORK
No spaces before typing the command prompt!!!!
|
TYPE THIS:cd c:\windows\system32\oobe
^
Make sure a space is between here
I am having this problem as well. I factory reset the computer and now this keeps looping. Won’t let my computer start up at all and shift f10 doesn’t bring anything up
When I try method 1, it says it isn’t recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file…
Then I tried method 2 There’a no ‘Local Users and Groups’ in System Tools…
Any idea what are these happening?
Hello Neil, in attempting to process method one, when clicking “system tools” I do not have the “Lical users and Groups users” link. All I see is the task scheduler, event viewer, shared folders, performance and device manager. Please help!!?
Yes for some version of windows this particular module is not installed. But you can still change the settings using the command prompt. Type these two commands
net user administrator /active:yes
net user administrator mypass
After doing this you should be able to login using the password “mypass”
What’s a command prompt? I have the same problem. This laptop was brand new only used once there was two accounts but it wasn’t touched so all I did to get rid of the accounts was just to restore them, so it was taking forever during the hp software installation the installation bar would be at the very end then it would just go back to the middle out of no where and just stay stuck so I had to turn it off. And now this message keeps on popping up and I don’t know how to fix it. That’s literally money down the drain and this laptop is brand new. Hp 15 387
Thank you Neil, that actually took me a step closer allowing me to log in. However, I’m still getting the error msg. Could it be that I have more than one admin accounts?? I’ve been trying to get this fixed for couple days now and I have an account created as removevirus and one admin. Would I need to disable one?
This isn’t working for me like many others the users group is missing . I tried setting the two commands for mypass and it said it was successful in the command prompt. However that did nothing. Windows keeps trying to start saying setup is starting serviced with the pop up saying it can’t complete the installation .
Hi neil, I’m like nina and don’t have local users groups so I can’t complete the process. I’ll drive back home and shift f10 to get the command prompt, and will type in, net user administrator /active:yes
net user administrator mypass So I can login using mypass. And then do the process #2. I hope to hear from you soon, thanks for your efforts.
Hello, did you solve this? because it is happening to me and I dont know what to do
Thanks sooo much I really needed this!
I tried the second method on my asus laptop and i there is no local users under computer management. Not sure what to do from here and the First method did nothing.
Hi..Im still stuck at step : 7. I cannot find Local Users and Groups.
Please Help!!!
Hello I’ve tried both methods and still having the same problem with the exact error message described.
After completing the steps in Method2; what action do you recommend to force the restart/reboot?
Neil… any thoughts on what else I can do to try and get this to work?
I’ve tried the steps again, but It looks like the prior step (uncheck Account is Disabled) is un-checked, so the prior step did work, but unfortunately it has not resolved the boot-loop.
You are a teacher fuckin genius thankyou!
I followed method two fine, but it failed to break the cycle.
Did both of these and they did not work. I was using the free Microsoft 7 ISO with a clone virtual drive. The installation process froze and afterrestarting I hit this loop. Bought the computer with a pirated copy of windows 7 enterrine and just trying to get legit. Can you help?
Hi Neil,
I was trying to install Windows 7 on my desktop through the OS itself (without booting from the disk, booting from disk doesn’t work for some reason), and am getting “Windows couldn’t locate the installation sources” error. Am not sure how to solve this problem. Could you please help?
Thx for this post, Method 1 works for me. Very big help. keep it up.
Awesome work. Thankyou .
Perfect first method worked.
Nothing is working.
server 2008 standard
Neither of this method worked for me. I tried to re-install my ASUS transformer book T100 to factory settings and after about 30 minutes this screen came up:
“Windows could not complete the installation. To install Windows on this computer, restart the installation.”
It is not allowing me to do anything. I have tried all the options you suggested, but neither of them actually take me anywhere. Any other suggestions?
Best,
Roberta
Hello Nil,
Today i have face same issue with windows 10. after sysprep it is giving error “Windows could not complete the installation. To install Windows on theis compuiter, restart the installation”
i have tried both methods mentioned by you. but it didn’t solve issue.. can you please help
This was so helpful, special thanks to those of you who made this. Sometimes the simplest bugged out stuff can cause someone such a headache, wonderful quick fix for this….. Honestly impressed with you guys. Great job thanks again.
i was on an easter egg hunt all day trying to find a solution to that annoying loop problem: to help a friend and my curiosity, i’ve been around the world today. for just a hint of the right answer after much reading and surfing the web you hit it on the mark, my navigation in dos is weak now. just needed to adjust it from the directory path it landed in when i pressed the F10
thank you so much it worked and made sense. i gotta say, so glad i found your forum and i’ll be back.
After using method one, I was able to “customize” my install. Now it seems to be on an (hopefully not) endless “Just a moment” screen…thoughts? This is a brand new HP Omen out of the box w/Windows 10 home.
Hi Neil
Trying to recovery my windows on my Toshiba computer. Brought a Recovery Flashdrive from Toshiba. It has been struck on 11 of of 57 for three hour trying to installAtheros Wireless Lan Driver. Should I turn it off and see what happens or wait three more hours. Made a mistake before installing recovery.. trying to fix it on my own and put in a Password as the administrator. So for the first minutes of trying to recover it keep asking me to put in the password. Even after it said that the recovery was done. I turned it off to restart it… then this configuration window started…. now I am struck. Any suggestions. Thanks
Hello Niel
on getting to stage 7 Click on Computer Management -> System Tools -> Local Users and Groups -> Users
its OK but to right click on the administrator ,am having issues there cos am not seeing administrator on my system,any help?
Hi
I followed the steps you provided in method 2 and when I get to the set password part for administrator it says setting the password may cause irreversible loss for the user account. If I change the password as you instructed does this mean I will not have my information or files after it reboots? I’m afraid to click this and lose all my photos videos and work. I upgraded from Windows 7 to 10 and got the error that Windows could not complete the installation.
Thank you for your help.
Michelle
Please help I can get in to the method 2 but having a problem my mouse is not showing the arrow so I can click on anything….is thee anything I can do????
Well… what i did to get my mouse working was Reboot it twice, and then my mouse was working fine. Hope this helps~
First method didn’t work. Second method I get to the screen where I should see users and there’s nothing there. Holding for Microsoft for half a hour now. Any help I could get would be greatly appreciated. – Kris
I have Windows 10 and I don’t have Local Users and groups! What do I do ??
I have the exact problem. Have you solved it?
Glenda, you can use the keyboard if you can’t use the mouse. Use F10 to select file. Use arrow keys and tab to navigate and space to toggle between ticked and in ticked. However I am having the same problems and this didn’t solve it for me and I’m not sure how it’s relevant
Same problem here. Crashed Friday after a mandatory Windows update. Tried using oobe, got to oobe but msoobe does nothing. Tried to use mypass, says it was successful but no change upon restart.
There is no line labeled “Local Users and Groups” under computer management either. Very frustrated.
Computer is an Acer Aspire E 15. Just over a year old. Never had any problems before this.
Hope someone can find a solution to this.
Thanks
Johnathan—did you get a resolution? You and I have the exact same issues. I can reset the password but it ends there. Then there is no “local user and group” in method 2. This is just unbelievable. What did you do to get around all this???
Local Users and Groups are not there to fallow the method2
I’m trying to execute the Fix, however hitting Shift F10 does nothing! I get no command center, anyone else?
did you find an answer
I didnt get pass the users folder missing… Would love to a answer, as microsoft didnt respond yet
I had the exact same problem as you all and I fixed my computer this morning. If you are okay with going back to your previous Windows version, follow these steps:
1. Press and hold down the power button of your computer for a full 10 seconds (feel free to count with mississippis).
2. After turning off the computer, turn it back on.
3. Go once you get the options, go to Trouble Shooting
4. Then go to Advanced Options
5. Then at the bottom there will be an option saying ‘See more advanced settings’
6. Click go back to previous version
It should be loading and trying to go back to the original version, this may take up to 10 minutes, do not freak out and think that it is on an endless loop because it will work. It just requires time, after it finished you will have all your files and accounts that you previously had (nothing will be gone). You will just be on the previous Windows version. This method fixed my computer, let me know if it works for you!
Method 1: This works for me 100%. Appreciated!
Thank you friend
Having issue in server2012r2
Neither methods work for me. In method 1 typing msoobe does nothing and in method 2 there is no local users and groups folder.
Hitting Shift + F10 is doing nothing for me. I’ve been turning my computer off and on again to try all night with no luck. Any alternative suggestions? Thanks.
Hello, I have a Lenovo Think pad that has an error message that says Install windows and then a red x that says “windows could not complete the installation. To install Windows on this computer, restart the installation. When I try this, I keep getting the same error message. Tried using the f10 method – it doesn’t work, no screen comes up that I could type the code into, is there anything else I can do? It’s my son’s laptop that he uses for his online school. Thank you!
Hello, after windows 10 done a restart to update i get the message could not complete the installation. The mouse isn’t working as well. Any help please
Neither of these options are working. ON a Mac with Bootcamp, not that it matters.
Still comes up with the error.
I was managing to follow most steps, then once I entered system tools I didn’t see “local users” so my progress has halted. I also have no mouse cursor either making the navigation difficult. Any help please.
i wish i would’ve found this post before all the other one but now my acer is sitting in setup is starting services screen should i just leave it
I could not get command prompt on pressing shift+f10. Nothing happens.
Hello, I have an old computer and my computer does not have the F10 button and I received the message ” Windows could not complete this installation. To install windows on this computer, restart the installation.
What do I do? I honestly do not know what to do
I cannot uncheck Account is disabled. Please let me know what I should do to continue the process. Thanks.
Terima kasih banyak..
Artikel ini ini sangat membantu..
Hey Neil.
I’m about to pull all my hair out with this issue.
I followed both methods, neither worked. When I enter msoobe it isn’t recognised as a valid entry. And I get the same with Method 2 when I enter mmc – it’s not recognised as a valid command entry.
Any ideas? I hate the thought of paying $65 for the guy up town to punch in the “correct” command, when I can easily do it, if only I knew what the correct command was.
I have an infuriating model of Toshiba Satellite L775D which is the most impossible to reformat! I’ve had to pay for this repair three times already, because this laptop loves to puke out the blue, or black screen of death, if you look at it the wrong way!
I’m disabled and I cannot keep throwing money at this thing when I know I can repair it myself! Argh!! LOL!
Any help you can give will be appreciated. Thank you.
Jack – Canada
Thank you very much guys method 1 worked for me
Great web site. Plenty of helpful info here.
I am sending it to several buddies ans additionally sharing in delicious.
And naturally, thanks to your effort!
I cant call msoobe and mmc both. Im trying to install win on the same hdd with mac hackintosh clover. No luck still…
First, thanks so much for your helping all of us. I’ve been trying to install Win10 Pro for 3 days. It REALLY shouldn’t be this difficult!
Method 1: msoobee never got to the account creation screen. It got hung up with “wait a moment”. When Kelly Clarkson sang “some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this”, this must have been what she meant. This moment DOES take a lifetime. I stopped after 8 hours. Multiple attempts didn’t help.
Method 2: completed steps through “System Tools ->Local Users & Groups” but at that point got an error: “unable to access computer desktop-hsjhfsh. invalid directory pathname was passed.”
Tried it again, same result. Exited without saving changes. I have no clue how to solve this.
Curiously, during all this my cursor was invisible. I could see things highlighted as i moved it, but couldn’t put it where i wanted. Had to use Tab, arrow keys, etc to move around.. and figure out which keys to use!
Thanks again.
I’m a old man living in New Zealand and I have a problem
Last night my laptop went into a blue screen ” WHEA Uncorrectable error ” it was late so I planned to look at fixing it today. Turned laptop on to find a error loop “encountered a unexplained error please click OK button to restart the PC and the restaert the installation” What I also get on the screen is the word ” Preparing” at the bottom of the screen. Can you help I need access. I’ using a old 8.1 laptop to send message.
Hi Neil,
I am installing the 2016 Server Datacenter OS on Virtual machine. I am getting the error “unattended answer file contains an invalid product key”.
Can you please help ?
Regards,
Vishal
Shift and f10 not working